Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-10-21

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fine the duties and powers of q mighty
government in all It's details. In this re-
cent procession of people grateful for the
venerated wisdom of these men whose
names have been transmitted to Us, as
synonymous of the great ideas
of liberty and lf-governmeht, there was
emblsZoned upon one of the banners
colossal figure, with one hand pointing
to the dawn of our earliest civilization,
and the other to the present high stand
ard of character and greatness OF our
country, and we as Texans may to-day
gladden. our hearts with the proud refsc-
ton that our youthful and vigorous state,
in its limited sphere, presents still
greater MIRAGE of history, and is like
some rich and noble treasureship, freight
ed with the merited wealth of historic re-
nown. IL this life scarcely more than half
century long are crowded a constella-
ton of epochs enough to make resplen-
dent whole centuries OF common years.
And it is none the less gratifying that her
sons, who have been actors, have always
come up in wisdom and in high resolve to
the stern and terrible demands of duty,
which each hour pregnant with the fates
/ and fortunes brought.
In the very twilight of our young re-
public, when as yet the capabilities
of the land lay dormant, AMI
civilization had just begun its work,
her self-sacrfciDg people-many of
whom were great far beyond the ordinary
caste Of human character, and whose
stainless escu Cheons, like mirror,
It f cts only imsges of dsuntless Courage
ana patriotism-while numbering but
10000, they achieved in the short period
of seven months the independence of her
magnificent territory, larger in extent
han Great Britain and Ireland,
and for ten long years, with
out any direct aid from any
foreign government sustained that indie
pendence in defiance Of any effort which
q nation of 10000. 600 made to reduce
them to subj ctlon, coming out of the
struggle with less loss of life and treasure
than ever characterized revolution OF as
much magnitude in the annals of history.
Then followed an era of steady progress
in every variety of active enterprise, in
useful industries and business Interests
which constitute the most vital elements
that figure in the estimate OF great and
enlightened people.
But in an evil hour, when passion
ragged like an angry sea, we became In
volyed in civil war which shook our
continent; at the close of this prolonged
and fearful struggle which convulsed both
sections Of the Union and called into &C
tive operation their best energies, our
state emerged from the unequal conflict
shorn of everything save that which the
coDquerer could not destroy-her wealth
of proud traditions-and she bowed tC
the decree of destiny with an honesty as
undaunted as her courage in the field was
sublime, and by methods of peace
equally chivalric. instead OF making
the memories Of her misfootuues 6
marsh of perpetual bitterness, the pas!
was forgotten in the duties Of the pres
emit and the hope of the future. Emulat
ing In this age Of Christian civilization
the wisdom of that ancient decree whtc 4
declared "that it is not fitting that any
record should exist OF any dlscord b ::
tvs cen Greek and Creek" her peopie
have long since run the ploughshsre u
industry deep among the smoulderiG?
embers of strife, and turned these under
the green turf, to be watered y
the showers of material prosperity
and by patience and time they have
as we see here to-day, been TRANSFORMED
into productive and beneficial elements
of the soil, so that no mischiefmsker may
ever hope to rake them up TO slow witt
lurid light or destroying heat. 1t is 6
matter well known that France, guarded
by the craftsmanship of Theirs, paid to
Germany in the short space of two and O
half wears 81, 600, 100000 az an indemnity
after almost an equal expenditure al
home, to keep It's bonds at 9
premium, and its money Ell
psr with gold, and through il
all remains the most prosperous country
on the continent of Europe. Germany
won the victor wreath in the ten months
of destructive war, but the exhibition OF
French resources and craftsmanship
which triumphed over any disaster anC
defeat, effect more glory on the French
name tnan the prowess Of Napoleon
and will have the largest and brightest
psge in history, and to their credit,it may
be said, that in the honest, sturdy farmer
was found the true strength Of
the country, and those great anC
vital virtues which replenish it with
health and life under the waste of this
great storm of this period. And SO it has
been with our state, its energies and con
scious strength having been developed
it's habi's of frugslity and economy hav
ing been lnculcated and fixed by the grea
depression. The cspabillty of our people
for self government and the stability o.
our institutions having been demonstrated
by quiet and peaceable solution of exist
; ing embarrassments, our state at once
] entered upon career of progress anC
! prosperity that has in history few
parallels; and when confronted
with the full measure of the picture be-
!, fore US, we have an inspiring assurance
, that the day star of another and brighte
, period is Just below the horizon and ad
vsncing with an energy that gives promise
of its triumphant progress, even unto tn
, end.
And 1t becomes my duty as well q
: unqualified pleasure, to extend t.
ali the cordial greetings OF thu
! people of Dallas, who with keen appro
baton of the true and beauti
/ full, and the good, bid me vel
come you to this exhibition, unequaliet
in extent and uncommon in effec
by anything of the kind ever seen in oul
state. Not only showing as the truest in
} dices OF our states place in the march O
| ENTERPRISE, the blessings which follow in